LONDON — Prince William and Princess Kate have announced the name of their third child: Louis Arthur Charles.
His official title will be His Royal Highness Prince Louis Arthur Charles of Cambridge.
The newborn was born at 11:01 a.m. local time on April 23 and weighed 8 pounds, 7 ounces at birth.
Kate delivered her third child in the Lindo Wing of St. Mary’s Hospital in London, the same hospital where she gave birth to her older children, Prince George, 4, and Princess Charlotte, who turns 3 on May 2.
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She departed St. Mary’s Hospital for Kensington Palace just hours after giving birth, posing upon her departure with William and their son.
The new baby is now fifth in line to the throne behind Prince Charles, William, George and Charlotte.
William and Kate revealed George’s name -- George Alexander Louis -- two days after his July 22, 2013, birth.
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Royal children usually get three names and are often named after former monarchs. George was named after Queen Elizabeth’s beloved father, King George, who died when she was just 26-years-old.
Charlotte’s name -- Charlotte Elizabeth Diana – was announced two days after her May 2, 2015, birth.
When Charlotte was named, the couple selected family names. Charlotte is the middle name of Kate's sister, Pippa Middleton, and the feminine version of Charles, the name of William's father. Charlotte's middle names, Elizabeth Diana, honor her great-grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, and grandmother, the late Princess Diana of Wales.
For their third child, William and Kate may have decided to wait for a few days to announce his name until they had a chance to introduce the baby prince to his grandfather, Prince Charles, and great-grandmother, Queen Elizabeth.
Queen Elizabeth has been in Windsor, away from Buckingham Palace, and Prince Charles has been out of the country on royal engagements.
It is also possible that William and Kate were just struggling with what to name their new baby and whom they would like to honor. William had expressed his desire that the baby have a “strong name."
Prince William's full name is William Arthur Philip Louis. When William was born on June 21, 1982, his parents didn't reveal his name until one week later. William's father, Prince Charles, was a month old before his name was made public.
William's brother, Harry, has been an exception. His name was announced on the day he was born.